South Carolina, Rhode Island confirm enterovirus D68, total of 32 states to date

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) laboratory has confirmed the first cases of the EV-D68 strain of enterovirus in two (2) residents of South Carolina’s Upstate region, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control reported tonight.

Enterovirus D68/CDC

“We requested lab support from the CDC shortly after this virus was on the rise in other parts of the country,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell. “We also asked hospitals who see a significant increase in cases of enterovirus respiratory infections or an increase in severe viral respiratory illness to notify us.

“This evening’s lab confirmations serve as a reminder that there are steps you can take to protect yourself against this and other respiratory illnesses,” she said.

In addition, The Rhode Island Department of Health today received confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of a confirmed case of enterovirus D68 infection (EV-D68) involving an adult. The adult, who was recently hospitalized, has since improved and been discharged.

This confirmed case of EV-D68 was part of a batch of specimens sent to the CDC on September 15. There have been no deaths in Rhode Island or in the United States associated with EV-D68. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page

According to the CDC, from mid-August to September 24, 2014, a total of 220 people from 32 states were confirmed to have respiratory illness caused by EV-D68. The 32 states are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. The cases of EV-D68 infection were confirmed by the CDC or state public health laboratories that notified CDC.